VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse bars have option to remain open until 4 a.m. during World Cup
Jahi Guise: The World Cup is around the corner, and bars across Onondaga County are ready to celebrate with some new hours. Our own Matt Sheremeta is there is live at Wolff’s Biergarten. Matt.
Matt Sheremeta: Wolff’s Biergarten is known for three things.
Dylan Volk: Lots of soccer, lots of beer, and lots of peanuts.
Sheremeta: Because of that, General Manager Dylan Volk is expecting Wolff’s to be jumping for the World Cup, and for longer. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced bars across New York state can stay open until 4 a.m. Volk says the decision to stay open late was a no brainer.
Volk: This is Wolff’s Biergarten’s Super Bowl. Basically, we have no problem being open that late. We’re going for it. I’ll sleep when this is over.
Sheremeta: For other bars in the area, the decision to keep the doors open longer wasn’t as easy to make. Kitty Hoyne’s owner, Dave Hoyne, says he is still on the fence about staying open that late.
Dave Hoyne: You will always have people that feel that, you know, 2 a.m. is too early to close, 4 a.m. is too early to close. So we just recently changed our hours. Actually, closing time is 1 a.m.
Sheremeta: Hoyne is still welcoming an inclusive atmosphere for fans cheering for all teams. And Volk says that’s what makes the World Cup so special, especially in a city like Syracuse.
Volk: It’s the number one reason I still work here is that I grew up in Syracuse. I know all of the different cultures here, and this is sort of a melting pot as a bar. We get to have everybody in here. They might chirp a little bit, but there’s no hate. It’s all in good fun. Soccer brings everybody together.
Sheremeta: The party runs later from June 11th to July 19th. No matter where you choose to watch or who you choose to cheer for. And the World Cup is an exciting experience for everyone in Syracuse. And some people are experiencing it for the first time. Like Tim, my friend here at Wolff’s Biergarten. He’s the bartender. Tim, you told me earlier, it’s your first World Cup. What are you doing to prepare for that?
Tim: Well, a lot of sleep, but honestly, mostly it’s going to be making sure we got all the beer and liquor you guys need to celebrate every single World Cup game.
Sheremeta: And, Tim, you told me it’s going to be jumping in here. What are we doing to prepare?
Tim: A lot of push ups? I don’t know, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, all we’re doing is making sure that we’ve got everything we need here to make sure everyone’s really happy.
Tim, go get those push ups in. And in good old Wolff’s Biergarten fashion, we’ll say Prost and send it back to Jahi and Jordan in the studio.
Guise: Thank you. Matt.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that bars and restaurants across New York state could remain open and serve alcohol until 4 a.m. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This allows Onondaga County bars to extend closing hours past 2 a.m. and for bars like Wolff’s Biergarten, the decision to remain open was an easy one to make.
“This is Wolff’s Biergarten’s Super Bowl. Basically, we have no problem being open that late. We’re going for it. I’ll sleep when this is over,” general manager Dylan Volk said.
Wolff’s markets itself as an “authentic German bierhaus and soccer sanctuary.” They host Premier League meetings for several local fan groups like the Syracuse Gooners, a group of passionate Arsenal FC fans. The World Cup brings even more people together, and Wolff’s has been a popular destination in prior years.
“We’re not only the only soccer bar in Syracuse that’s dedicated to every game, every hour, every weekend, every day of the year. But we also have a lot of people behind the bar that know exactly what they’re talking about,” Volk said.
Not every bar in Syracuse is choosing to remain open past typical closing hours – at least not yet.
Dave Hoyne, owner of Kitty Hoyne’s, said he is still on the fence about extending hours at his bar, which is another popular soccer viewing spot. He said the bar will start with original hours, but will be flexible if there’s a demand to stay open later.
“You will always have people that feel that, you know, 2 a.m. is too early to close, 4 a.m. is too early to close. So we just recently changed our hours. Actually, closing time is 1 a.m.” Hoyne said. “We are still looking at those particular schedules and there are always people who want to be out later.”
Bars won’t be the only spot to watch the game. Wolff’s is hosting viewing parties for all U.S. games at the CNY Regional Market F-Shed. The Everson Museum will also host viewing events. Salt City Market also plans on streaming games, like other restaurants in Syracuse.
But no matter where someone chooses to cheer, communities can be found anywhere they go, Volk said.
“It’s the number one reason I still work here. I grew up in Syracuse. I know all of the different cultures here, and this is sort of a melting pot as a bar. We get to have everybody in here. They might chirp a little bit, but there’s no hate. It’s all in good fun. Soccer brings everybody together.”